HR1057 LRB095 19307 GRL 45599 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3 Representatives fully recognize that stroke is the third
4 leading cause of death in the United States; each year, over
5 160,000 Americans die from strokes; African Americans are two
6 times more likely to suffer a first-ever stroke than Caucasian
7 Americans and age-adjusted death rates for stroke are also
8 higher among African Americans; and
 
9     WHEREAS, Stroke is also a leading cause of serious
10 long-term disability; more than 1.1 million American adults
11 experience functional limitations and difficulty with
12 activities of daily living as a result of a stroke every year;
13 and
 
14     WHEREAS, Despite the fact that Americans are now more aware
15 of stroke's risk factors and warning signs than in the past,
16 less than one in five adults can correctly classify all stroke
17 symptoms and warnings, which include sudden numbness or
18 weakness of the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of
19 the body, confusion, trouble speaking or understanding,
20 trouble seeing in one or both eyes, difficulty with walking,
21 dizziness, loss of balance or coordination, or a severe
22 headache with no known cause; and
 

 

 

HR1057 - 2 - LRB095 19307 GRL 45599 r

1     WHEREAS, There is a need for a coordinated system of care
2 for stroke that addresses stroke care along a continuum of care
3 from primary prevention through rehabilitation to greatly
4 reduce the fragmentation of care and the burden of stroke; and
 
5     WHEREAS, Essential components of an effective coordinated
6 system of care for stroke include patient access to the full
7 range of services associated with stroke prevention,
8 treatment, and rehabilitation; such services include
9 primordial and primary prevention, timely notification of and
10 response by emergency medical service providers, acute
11 treatment, sub-acute care and secondary prevention,
12 rehabilitation, and continual quality improvement initiatives;
13 and
 
14     WHEREAS, Timely recognition of the symptoms of stroke by
15 stroke victims, family members, the public, and emergency
16 medical service providers, which include, but are not limited
17 to, emergency medical responders, transport providers, and
18 hospital emergency room and health clinic personnel, is crucial
19 because the effects of stroke can be totally reversed if
20 recognized, diagnosed, and treated within three hours; and
 
21     WHEREAS, These groups can screen for stroke by remembering
22 the first three letters of the word "STR", and asking the
23 individual to Smile, Talk and speak a simple sentence

 

 

HR1057 - 3 - LRB095 19307 GRL 45599 r

1 coherently, and Raise both arms; and
 
2     WHEREAS, Another sign of stroke is noting whether an
3 individual's tongue is crooked or goes to one side; and
 
4     WHEREAS, A concerted focus toward the dissemination of this
5 type of information is one way to raise awareness about the
6 power of communities, especially communities of color, to
7 prevent stroke; therefore, be it
 
8     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
9 NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
10 encourage the members of the Illinois General Assembly and
11 other legislators across the country to partner with the
12 American Heart Association / American Stroke Association to
13 promote the Power to End Stroke program as a precursor to a
14 nationwide movement to address stroke as a serious health
15 disparity in African Americans in order to raise awareness that
16 uncontrolled high blood pressure and diabetes in African
17 Americans raises the risk for stroke and to promote adherence
18 to primary and secondary stroke prevention guidelines by
19 healthcare professionals; and be it further
 
20     RESOLVED, That this body, in collaboration with the
21 American Heart Association / American Stroke Association, will
22 seek to introduce and enact policy that will create and/or

 

 

HR1057 - 4 - LRB095 19307 GRL 45599 r

1 expand statewide coordinated systems of care for stroke, with
2 special focus and attention on timely access to care,
3 diagnosis, and the most advanced treatment for those most
4 disproportionately affected by stroke.